Effectiveness of an eHealth-Delivered Program to Empower People With Musculoskeletal Pain in Rural Australia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of a three-month physiotherapist-delivered eHealth physical activity program compared with usual care to improve function in adults with low back pain or knee osteoarthritis in rural Australia.

Methods: This was a parallel, two-group, pragmatic, superiority, randomized controlled trial involving three- and six-month posttreatment follow-ups. There was a total of 156 adults with chronic nonspecific low back pain (n = 97) or knee osteoarthritis (n = 59) from rural Australia.

Cell cycle dysregulation on prenatal and postnatal arsenic exposure in skin of Wistar rat neonates.

This study explores the effects of prenatal and postnatal (until weaning period) arsenic exposure given pregnant females on Wistar rat neonates. Pregnant female rats were divided in four groups - control, low dose, moderate dose and high dose groups of sodium arsenite exposure during gestation and weaning period. Half of the neonates were sacrificed at day 1 of birth and other half at day 21 of birth.

Effectiveness of a New Service Delivery Model for Management of Knee Osteoarthritis in Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and health costs of a new primary care service delivery model (the Optimising Primary Care Management of Knee Osteoarthritis [PARTNER] model) to improve health outcomes for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) compared to usual care.

Methods: This study was a 2-arm, cluster, superiority, randomized controlled trial with randomization at the general practice level, undertaken in Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. We aimed to recruit 44 practices and 572 patients age ≥45 years with knee pain for >3 months.

Educational Case: Understanding Kwashiorkor and Marasmus: Disease Mechanisms and Pathologic Consequences.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.

EHealth to empower patients with musculoskeletal pain in rural Australia (EMPoweR) a randomised clinical trial: study protocol.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) and knee osteoarthritis (OA) are major contributors to disability worldwide. These conditions result in a significant burden at both individual and societal levels. Engagement in regular physical activity and exercise programs are known to improve physical function in both chronic LBP and knee OA populations.

Protocol for the process and feasibility evaluations of a new model of primary care service delivery for managing pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (PARTNER) using a mixed methods approach.

Introduction: This protocol outlines the rationale, design and methods for the process and feasibility evaluations of the primary care management on knee pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (PARTNER) study. PARTNER is a randomised controlled trial to evaluate a new model of service delivery (the PARTNER model) against 'usual care'. PARTNER is designed to encourage greater uptake of key evidence-based non-surgical treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA) in primary care.

Does telephone-delivered exercise advice and support by physiotherapists improve pain and/or function in people with knee osteoarthritis? Telecare randomised controlled trial.

Objective: Evaluate a physiotherapist-led telephone-delivered exercise advice and support intervention for people with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Participant-blinded, assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial. 175 people were randomly allocated to (1) existing telephone service (≥1 nurse consultation for self-management advice) or (2) exercise advice and support (5-10 consultations with a physiotherapist trained in behaviour change for a personalised strengthening and physical activity programme) plus the existing service.

Validating the Short Form-12 and the development of disease-specific norms in a cohort of Australian private health insurance members.

Despite the large number of Australians with private health insurance (PHI), normative quality-of-life data are not available for this population. The Short Form (SF)-12 has been used to characterise the health-related quality of life of Australians in the general population, but there is debate concerning the appropriate algorithm that should be used to calculate its physical and mental component summary scores. The standard (orthogonal method) approach assumes that the mental and physical components are unrelated, whereas an alternate approach (the correlated method) assumes that the two components are related.

Correction to: Effectiveness of a new model of primary care management on knee pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: Protocol for THE PARTNER STUDY.

After the publication of this protocol [1], our collaborator Prima Health solutions advised us of their intent to withdraw from the study.

Curcumin restores hepatic epigenetic changes in propylthiouracil(PTU)Induced hypothyroid male rats: A study on DNMTs, MBDs, GADD45a, C/EBP-β and PCNA.

6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU), a thioamide drug, is used as an effective anti-thyroid agent to treat hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease. However, acute liver oxidative damage is an important side effect of the drug. In the present study, we report that PTU administration to rat induces hepatic epigenetic changes by upregulating expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, MBD4, MeCP2, p53 and Gadd45a and down-regulation of PCNA and C/EBP-β.

Effectiveness of a new model of primary care management on knee pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: Protocol for THE PARTNER STUDY.

Background: To increase the uptake of key clinical recommendations for non-surgical management of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and improve patient outcomes, we developed a new model of service delivery (PARTNER model) and an intervention to implement the model in the Australian primary care setting. We will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this model compared to usual general practice care.

Methods: We will conduct a mixed-methods study, including a two-arm, cluster randomised controlled trial, with quantitative, qualitative and economic evaluations.

Neonatal Exposure to 6-n-Propyl-Thiouracil, an Anti-Thyroid Drug, Alters Expression of Hepatic DNA Methyltransferases, Methyl CpG-Binding Proteins, Gadd45a, p53, and PCNA in Adult Male Rats.

Background: Neonatal 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) exposure to male rats is reported to impair liver function in adulthood. However, the mechanism by which the drug impairs liver function is not well known.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to investigate the effects of neonatal exposure of PTU on the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), methyl-DNA binding proteins (MBDs), Gadd45a, p53, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in adult rat liver.

Telephone-Delivered Exercise Advice and Behavior Change Support by Physical Therapists for People with Knee Osteoarthritis: Protocol for the Telecare Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Exercise and physical activity are a core component of knee osteoarthritis (OA) care, yet access to physical therapists is limited for many people. Telephone service delivery models may increase access.

Objective: Determine the effectiveness of incorporating exercise advice and behavior change support by physical therapists into an existing Australian nurse-led musculoskeletal telephone service for adults with knee OA.

Telephone Coaching to Enhance a Home-Based Physical Activity Program for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: To investigate whether simultaneous telephone coaching improves the clinical effectiveness of a physiotherapist-prescribed home-based physical activity program for knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A total of 168 inactive adults ages ≥50 years with knee pain on a numeric rating scale ≥4 (NRS; range 0-10) and knee OA were recruited from the community and randomly assigned to a physiotherapy (PT) and coaching group (n = 84) or PT-only (n = 84) group. All participants received five 30-minute consultations with a physiotherapist over 6 months for education, home exercise, and physical activity advice.

Neonatal Persistent Exposure to 6-Propyl-2-thiouracil, a Thyroid-Disrupting Chemical, Differentially Modulates Expression of Hepatic Catalase and C/EBP-β in Adult Rats.

Persistent exposure of rats to 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) from birth resulted in decreases in plasma thyroid hormone (TH) levels and hepatic expression of catalase and CCAAT enhancer binding protein β (C/EBP-β). Catalase promoter region (-185 to +52) that contains binding sites for C/EBP-β showed an augmentation in the methylation level along with a change in methylation pattern of CpG islands in response to PTU treatment. PTU withdrawal on 30 days of birth restored TH levels and C/EBP-β to control rats in adulthood.

Experimental glaucoma induced by ocular injection of magnetic microspheres.

Progress in understanding the pathophysiology, and providing novel treatments for glaucoma is dependent on good animal models of the disease. We present here a protocol for elevating intraocular pressure (IOP) in the rat, by injecting magnetic microspheres into the anterior chamber of the eye. The use of magnetic particles allows the user to manipulate the beads into the iridocorneal angle, thus providing a very effective blockade of fluid outflow from the trabecular meshwork.

40 years of cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention in post-cardiac ischaemic patients. Are we still in the wilderness?

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is the sum of interventions required to ensure the best physical, psychological and social conditions so that patients with cardiac disease may assume their place in society and slow the progression of the disease. Exercise testing (ET) early after MI has been shown to result in earlier return to work than the non-performance of ET. Research quality CR has resulted in lower cardiovascular mortality and lower recurrent hospitalisation and has been shown to be cost-effective.

Psychosocial risk factors for coronary heart disease.

In 2003, the National Heart Foundation of Australia published a position statement on psychosocial risk factors and coronary heart disease (CHD). This consensus statement provides an updated review of the literature on psychosocial stressors, including chronic stressors (in particular, work stress), acute individual stressors and acute population stressors, to guide health professionals based on current evidence. It complements a separate updated statement on depression and CHD.

Screening, referral and treatment for depression in patients with coronary heart disease.

In 2003, the National Heart Foundation of Australia position statement on "stress" and heart disease found that depression was an important risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). This 2013 statement updates the evidence on depression (mild, moderate and severe) in patients with CHD, and provides guidance for health professionals on screening and treatment for depression in patients with CHD. The prevalence of depression is high in patients with CHD and it has a significant impact on the patient's quality of life and adherence to therapy, and an independent effect on prognosis.

Addition of telephone coaching to a physiotherapist-delivered physical activity program in people with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial protocol.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common and costly chronic musculoskeletal conditions world-wide and is associated with substantial pain and disability. Many people with knee OA also experience co-morbidities that further add to the OA burden. Uptake of and adherence to physical activity recommendations is suboptimal in this patient population, leading to poorer OA outcomes and greater impact of associated co-morbidities.

Inoperable bulky melanoma responds to neoadjuvant therapy with vemurafenib.

A patient with a bulky inoperable stage IIIC melanoma involving the left axilla and neck from a primary of the left medial elbow received vemurafenib as neo-adjuvant treatment. Based on the molecular analysis, BRAF V600E mutation was present. After 4 months of vemurafinib treatment, the tumours shrank to less than 50% of original clinical size and allowed the surgeons to perform a left modified radical neck dissection and left radical axillary dissection.

A pilot study evaluating multiple risk factor interventions by community pharmacists to prevent cardiovascular disease: the PAART CVD pilot project.

Background: There is insufficient evidence for the efficacy of comprehensive multiple risk factor interventions by pharmacists in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Given the proven benefits of pharmacist interventions for individual risk factors, it is essential that evidence for a comprehensive approach to care be generated so that pharmacists remain key members of the health care team for individuals at risk of initial onset of CVD.

Objective: To establish the feasibility of an intervention delivered by community pharmacists to reduce the risk of primary onset of CVD.